A nurse administered docusate sodium 100 mg to the wrong patient. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

• A. Notify the physician
• B. Take vitals
• C. Administer diuretic
• D. Document the incident

Answer: (A)

When a medication error occurs, the priority is to safeguard the patient by getting the appropriate medical guidance right away. Notifying the physician is the most immediate step because it brings a clinician into the situation who can assess potential harm, determine what monitoring or interventions are needed, and initiate any necessary orders. This urgent communication helps ensure the patient receives prompt, correct care based on their current status. After the physician is alerted, you would typically assess the patient by checking vital signs and observing for adverse effects, then document the incident as part of the safety process. Giving a diuretic would not be an appropriate response, and documenting without involving the clinician and assessing the patient first could miss critical needs.